"We're not really getting the respect that we should," Miami outfielder Dale Carey said. "To get respect, we have to earn it. It's kind of a good thing for us because now we see how people feel about us and we know we have to work harder and get better and prove them wrong and prove we deserve to be in the top 25.

"... We know we're better than that. We know some teams are up there that we could compete with and beat."

The stunning end to last season did nothing but fuel the Hurricanes all summer and winter, Carey said. They hosted the regionals, but were eliminated in losses to Stony Brook (10-2) and Missouri State (12-2).

"Hosting a regional and pretty much thinking it would be a cakewalk into the super regionals and getting that taste of an upset in your mouth, somebody coming in your house and beating you, it kinda hurt," Carey said. "It was an eye opener. And we learned from it."